staffhttp://www.ekklesia.co.uk/taxonomy/term/338/all
enPrison officer numbers fall again as major recruitment drive failshttp://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/23390
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<p>The number of frontline officers working in public-sector prisons has fallen over the last year, despite Ministry of Justice plans to recruit additional staff to help respond to the highest levels of violence, suicide and self-injury since recording practices began.</p>
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<p>The number of frontline officers working in public-sector prisons has fallen over the last year, despite Ministry of Justice plans to recruit additional staff to help respond to the highest levels of violence, suicide and self-injury since recording practices began.</p>
<p>Statistics seen by the Howard League for Penal Reform show that there were 14,689 frontline officers (full time equivalent) in England and Wales in June 2016, down from 15,110 a year earlier. This leaves prisons with barely more frontline staff than the lows of 2014, which prompted the Ministry of Justice to embark on a major recruitment exercise.</p>
<p>Almost every region has seen frontline officer numbers fall in the last year, with the most significant reductions recorded in the East Midlands (eight per cent), the South West (seven per cent) and the West Midlands (seven per cent).</p>
<p>Previous research by the Howard League has shown how prison officer numbers were cut by 30 per cent between 2010 and 2013. Today’s figures (31 August 2016) indicate that, in spite of the government’s recruitment drive, people remain unwilling to work in prisons under present conditions.</p>
<p>While officer numbers fell between June 2013 and June 2016, the prison population across England and Wales rose from 83,796 to 85,130 – putting more pressure on a failing system.</p>
<p class="pullquote">Andrew Neilson, Director of Campaigns at the Howard League for Penal Reform, said:<strong> “</strong>Reducing resources while allowing the prison population to grow unchecked has created a toxic cocktail of violence, death and human misery. These figures show how reductions in staffing and problems in recruiting and retaining new staff are feeding the problems behind bars.</p>
<p class="pullquote">“The vast majority of those sent to prison will be released back to the community and so it matters to all of us what happens to people when they are sent to prison. Throwing someone into a raging torrent of violence, drugs and despair is not going to help that person steer away from crime. On the contrary, it will feed more crime and create yet more pressure on the failing prisons.</p>
<p class="pullquote">“The Ministry of Justice can look again at its recruitment policies but only wide-ranging reforms, which include a serious attempt at reducing prison numbers, will move us away from institutions that shame the nation.”</p>
<p>As the prison population has grown and frontline officer numbers have fallen, safety in jails has deteriorated significantly. (<a href="http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/23306" title="http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/23306">http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/23306</a>)</p>
<p>Ministry of Justice statistics released last month showed that 321 people died in prison custody during the year to the end of June 2016 – an increase of 30 per cent on the previous 12 months. They included 105 people who are thought to have taken their own lives.</p>
<p>Reported incidents of self-harm in prisons have risen by 27 per cent in a year. There were 34,586 reported incidents in the 12 months to the end of March 2016 – one every 15 minutes.</p>
<p>The number of assaults on prison staff has increased by 40 per cent. There were 5,423 incidents during the 12 months to the end of March 2016 – at a rate of almost 15 per day.</p>
<p>* Howard League for Penal Reform <a href="http://howardleague.org/" title="http://howardleague.org/">http://howardleague.org/</a></p>
<p>[Ekk/4]</p>
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EqualityPeace and NonviolenceNews Briefcutsministry of justiceprison overcrowdingprisonsstaffThe Howard League for Penal ReformUK Newsviolence in prisonsWed, 31 Aug 2016 07:20:52 +0000agency reporter23390 at http://www.ekklesia.co.ukFarewell to Henrietta Cullinanhttp://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/22916
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<p>Last week we said farewell to our administrator, Henrietta Cullinan, who leaves us to return to teaching.</p>
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<p>Last week, Ekklesia said a fond farewell to our administrator Henrietta Cullinan, who is leaving us to return to teaching.</p>
<p>Henrietta has been a quiet, efficient presence in the office, responsible for the regular newsletters, managing partners income, advertising, donations and much, much more. We have been greatly blessed to have had her working with us and are very sorry to see her go.</p>
<p>She left us in style, organising our most recent talk by peace activist Fr John Dear, in partnership with the London Catholic Worker and Pax Christi. The audio from this tape will be on the site shortly, but suffice to say it was an excellent evening and much appreciated by all who attended.</p>
<p>Thanks Henrietta for all you have done for us. We'll miss you!</p>
<p><img src="/sites/ekklesia.co.uk/files/johndear_0.jpg" height="600" width="450" /></p>
<p>------------</p>
<p>[Ekk/5]</p>
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Beliefs and ValuesNews BriefEkklesiastaffUK NewsMon, 04 Apr 2016 15:28:46 +0000staff writers22916 at http://www.ekklesia.co.ukUnions and campaigners oppose staff cuts at London tube and train stationshttp://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/19270
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<p>The Action for Rail campaign joins forces today (23 October) with campaign groups to condemn plans to shed hundreds of staff across London Transport.</p>
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<p>The Action for Rail campaign joins forces today (23 October) with transport, disabled and older people’s campaign groups to condemn plans by London Mayor Boris Johnson to shed hundreds of staff across London’s transport.</p>
<p>There will be a day of protests across the capital with activity at a number of London Underground stations. </p>
<p>Campaigners are protesting as they believe passengers could be faced with significantly fewer staff to assist them as a result of a cocktail of cuts being proposed across London transport services. </p>
<p>They include plans to close ticket offices at stations across London Underground, cut other tube staff, and remove guards from trains on London Overground.</p>
<p>Campaigners also fear the cuts could have an impact on staff employed in maintenance work across the network.</p>
<p>London Underground is due to release further details of the proposed cuts next month. In his Spending Review earlier this year, the Chancellor announced a 12.5 per cent cut to the Transport for London (TfL) budget, to take effect from June 2015. Action for Rail fears that this cut could result in further job losses.</p>
<p>Polling recently commissioned by the RMT showed that more than two-thirds (71 per cent) of passengers oppose ticket office closures in London. A survey of passengers jointly commissioned by Action for Rail, Transport for All, Disabled Passengers Against Cuts (DPAC) and the National Pensioners Convention shows that four in five (81 per cent) of respondents said the loss of staff at stations would make travel difficult.</p>
<p>In addition, more than two-thirds (71 per cent) said they require assistance from staff at stations and on trains. More than half (54 per cent) said they needed help buying tickets. Nearly half (45 per cent) needed help with accessing ticket gates and platforms; and more than a third (34 per cent) said it would deter them making some journeys or make train travel difficult.</p>
<p>Campaigners are also highlighting that under the Mayoralty of Boris Johnson, fares have risen three times faster than average earnings, contributing to the living standards crisis in the capital.</p>
<p>Action for Rail spokesperson and TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “The Mayor’s plans to cut staff on the tubes and trains and at stations across London will come as a shock to passengers who are worried about escalating fares in the capital. This might help implement the Chancellor’s cuts in London, but our research shows that train passengers are rightly appalled at this prospect.</p>
<p>“Commuters and passengers – especially the elderly, disabled, and those travelling with young children – desperately want the support, reassurance and safety that rail staff provide.”</p>
<p>Director of disabled and older people’s passenger group Transport for All Faryal Velmi said: “Underground staff play a key role in assisting disabled and older people to use the London Underground including accessing the platform and the train, particularly at stations with complicated access routes, or manual boarding ramps.</p>
<p>“We are very concerned that if these staff cuts go ahead then access to the entire London Underground network will be restricted for disabled and older passengers".</p>
<p>President of the National Pensioners Convention Ron Douglas said: “Older passengers already face difficulties accessing the tubes and trains in London. The last thing any pensioners in the capital want is to lose the staff that provide us with essential support.</p>
<p>“We’re calling on the Mayor to prioritise the needs of London’s older people and make a stand against the Chancellor’s swingeing cuts to London’s public transport.”</p>
<p>ASLEF General Secretary Mick Whelan said: “A year after the London Olympics – when transport workers in London moved millions of tourists quickly and safely through the capital – it’s ridiculous that the legacy – the legacy for Londoners and those who travel in the capital is a Conservative Mayor determined to shed hundreds of jobs on tubes, trains and stations across London. Londoners deserve the same standards this year – and every year – that we offered those who visited these shores in 2012.”</p>
<p>RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said: “Londoners need to be clear what is at stake. Boris Johnson and his officials are cooking up a secret plan behind closed doors that will threaten 6,000 jobs, close hundreds of ticket offices and leave maintenance schedules in tatters and stations unstaffed. This is the biggest single threat to the entire tube network since Hitler’s bombers were pounding London in the Blitz.</p>
<p>“The Mayor’s secret plans – which would deny thousands access to the tube network and leave it lethally understaffed for the rest – are expected to be dropped in the run up to Christmas with the intention of bulldozing them through (with just 90 days notice) in March. RMT will work with transport users and our unions to mount an all-out industrial and political fight to halt the attack on tube jobs and services.”</p>
<p>TSSA General Secretary Manuel Cortes said: “Boris, even by his own record of stretching the truth to breaking point, has surpassed himself. In 2008, he promised to keep open every tube ticket office. Now he is planning to close every single one with the loss of 2,000 jobs. He is walking to Downing Street over a street of broken promises.”</p>
<p>[Ekk/4]</p>
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Living EconomyNews Briefaction for railBoris JohnsoncutsLondon UndergroundstaffTfLTransport for LondontucUK NewsWed, 23 Oct 2013 08:44:10 +0000agency reporter19270 at http://www.ekklesia.co.ukTime to end discrimination by faith schoolshttp://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/4849
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<h1 class="title">Time to end discrimination by faith schools</h1>
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<p><a href="http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/4849" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Beliefs and ValuesEqualityadmissionsAssociation of Teachers and LecturersATLchurch schoolCommentsdiscriminationEducationfaith schoolsMedia CentrestaffFri, 16 Mar 2007 11:47:00 +0000Simon Barrow4849 at http://www.ekklesia.co.ukFAQ 7: Who is involved in running Ekklesia and where do you get your money from?http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/about/faqs/7
<!-- google_ad_section_start --><p>We have a small (unsalaried) <a href="http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/about/staff">staff</a>, a growing network of <a href="http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/about/associates">associates</a> and allies, various <a></a></p>
<!-- google_ad_section_end --><p><a href="http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/about/faqs/7" target="_blank">read more</a></p>faqsstaffTue, 06 Mar 2007 22:50:29 +0000sysadmin4648 at http://www.ekklesia.co.ukStaffhttp://www.ekklesia.co.uk/about/staff
<!-- google_ad_section_start --><p>Ekklesia was originally set up to operate 'virtually', with its freelance / volunteer staff operating from different locations.</p>
<!-- google_ad_section_end --><p><a href="http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/about/staff" target="_blank">read more</a></p>EkklesiastaffThu, 11 Jan 2007 16:20:17 +0000Press Office273 at http://www.ekklesia.co.uk